Category Archives: Instructional Strategies

What is dyslexia? This one-page fact sheet provides essential information about dyslexia. You can read the fact sheet online, or print it out. Click on the download link below to print the fact sheet. Dyslexia Fact Sheet (View Full Size / Download) Explore an overview on dyslexia, which includes a video with an expert and inspiring personal stories. Find out what ... Read More »

In the Edutopia article “Getting Critical about Critical Thinking,” Heather Wolpert-Gawron explores five pedagogical practices teachers can adopt to improve students’ critical thinking skills. Check them out in the excerpt from her article below: Adopt a PBL philosophy. Project-based learning differs from mere projects because it triggers more critical thinking. Rather than write a report on a state, why not ... Read More »

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently announced that the State Board has adopted new ELA Standards to be implemented during the 2018-19 school year. This wikispace provides a great deal of information about the new standards, which provide much more specific guidance into the specific skills and understandings students should acquire particularly in the Language and Writing strands. ... Read More »

Do you have a student in your classroom who needs some additional supports to be successful? The use of assistive technology (AT) may be an easy way to meet that need. IDEA defines assistive technology as any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that ... Read More »

Paideia seminar is a dynamic process of thoughtful dialogue that is structured for collaborative thinking among students to enhance individual and collective understanding of a rigorous text. Paideia teachers change lives by teaching students how to think critically and creatively. The Paideia approach is designed to improve students’ reading, speaking and listening, and writing skills. This PD will provide classroom ... Read More »

Are you looking for a way to encourage your students with summarizing information from text? The 5-3-1 strategy allows students to work independently, in pairs, as well as with a group to share their thoughts and ideas surrounding specific topics. 5-3-1 strategy 1. On their own, students think of 5 words or phrases related to what they learned (ex. from ... Read More »

The Frayer Model has been a common research-based vocabulary graphic organizer that has helped students make sense of vocabulary for years. Using a Frayer Model increases depth of understanding of word knowledge as well as encourages students to think critically about vocabulary. Teachers can modify the categories to add additional challenge or to increase rigor. Check out this resource on ... Read More »

We hear a lot today about teaching kids skills such as grit, empathy, and integrity. Unfortunately, these skills aren’t overtly labeled in any curriculum we teach, but as educators, it is our job not only to teach content but also teach skills that help our students develop into quality human beings. One site that can help our students understand the ... Read More »

The first standard of the Common Core Writing Standards is devoted to argument writing. Sometimes argument writing seems very similar to informational writing (Common Core Writing Standard #2). They both incorporate information, and they have similar basic text structures: They must begin with an introduction that states the topic and end with a conclusion. However, their aims are different and ... Read More »

We know them, the students who LOVE to participate in collaborative discussions. They seem to constantly have something to add to the conversation. These kids keep our classes lively and keep teachers on their toes! We also have those other students who, during class discussions, rarely speak up – preferring instead to listen. However, if directly asked a question, often ... Read More »